Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and water, homogeneous dispersion has been prepared by stirring and sonication. This dispersion was extruded into fiber via gel spinning. The modulus of the PVA/SWNT (3 wt%) composite fiber was 40% higher than that of the control PVA gel spun fiber. Fiber structure and properties have been studied. The PVA orientation in the control and the composite fibers were comparable while the composite fiber exhibited lower crystallinity. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.